The official blog of Stone Brewing Co. & the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens

Menu

Lasting Innovation: Stone Smoked Porter

A porter brewed with peat-smoked malt and enough hops to bring the IBU (International bittering unit) count to 53 is undoubtedly innovative. That beer concept is right up there with the plethora of novel smoked ales and lagers that have become so prominent across the county over the past several years. But the beer weâ€™re referring to, Stone Smoked Porter, isnâ€™t among that new wave. Itâ€™s been tantalizing taste buds while hovering within the top layer of craft beerâ€™s cloud of smoke since 1996!

Our first and last winter seasonal (while we do brew and release some of our annual beers the same time each year, we decided early on not to make beers strictly focused on seasonality), Stone Smoked Porter was far ahead of its time from a creativity standpoint. Back then, the craft brewing landscape was much differentâ€”far smaller and less adventurous in general. One would be lucky enough to find a plain, textbook version of an IPA, ESB, oatmeal stout or a porter, let alone one venturing off the beaten path. Yet, from day one, our co-founder and original brewmaster, Steve Wagnerâ€”who despite his pleasant and seemingly tame demeanor has always been quite the wildcardâ€”was never about simply duplicating the classics.

A fan of both smoked porters being produced in the Pacific Northwest and peat-heavy varieties of Scotch whisky, Wagner aimed to infuse some of that rich, succinct character into his porter (Stoneâ€™s first dark beer, and second beer of all time). The peat-smoked malt did the trick, bringing on a defined smolder while preserving the beerâ€™s drinkability. Of course, the addition of Columbus and Mt. Hood hops played an integral role in balancing things out and brought forth the fresh, evergreen taste that has become Stoneâ€™s calling card.

Photo Courtesy StudioSchulz.com

In addition to tasting outstanding, Stone Smoked Porter has gone on to disprove many a drinkerâ€™s misperception that they do not enjoy dark beers. That, plus this classicâ€™s enduring relevance and unique flavor profile, make us glad we bucked the seasonal trend and have kept this in our year-round line-up for the past 17 years! Pour yourself a beautiful tan-headed pint, then check out both the new Stone Smoked Porter webpage and our video of Steve taking us through the process of first brewing this exceptional beer.